Flexible cup for downhole devices

Abstract

An improved cup and method for making same for use on a “pig” or any other down hole equipment for engaging the wall of a pipe line, which comprises an inner metal sleeve portion; a metal shoulder portion extending outward from the sleeve around its perimeter extending into an angulated arm portion; a strong flexible material, such as polyurethane, molded onto an outer surface of the sleeve, and enveloping the metal shoulder and arm portion, the flexible material defining the outer body and cup portion of the improved cup, so that the metal shoulder and arm portion enveloped by and integral to the cup portion provides additional support to the flexible material to prevent deformation of other damage to the circular cup as it would be positioned on the “pig” body or other down hole device. The improved cup would be formed by placing the metal sleeve with the shoulder and arm member into a mold; pouring the plastic-type polyurethane material into the mold, so that upon curing, the plastic-type material adheres to an outer surface of the sleeve and completed envelopes the shoulder and arm portion of the cup; allowing the plastic-type material to cure; and removing the composite cup from the mold to be positioned onto the body of a pig or other device for use down hole.

1. An improved circular cup for use on down hole devices, comprising:
 a. a metal sleeve portion, having an opening therethrough; 
 b. an arm portion extending out from the metal sleeve portion, substantially around its entire circumference; 
 c. a flexible material formed onto the sleeve portion to define a composite cup, the flexible material enveloping the arm portion so that the arm portion provides structural integrity to the flexible material when subjected to pressures in a pipe line or other down hole setting; 
 d. wherein the arm portion further comprises a plurality of perforations therethrough so that the flexible material flows through the perforations resulting in greater adhesion between the sleeve and the flexible material. 
 
   
   
     2. The improved circular cup in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material comprises a moldable material selected from a group including plastic, polyurethane, polypropylene or polyethylene materials. 
   
   
     3. The improved circular cup in  claim 1 , wherein the cup would be moldable and engaged around a pig or other down hole device in a pipe line. 
   
   
     4. The improved circular cup in  claim 1 , wherein the composite cup would contact an inner wall of the pipe line so that pressure placed on the cup would provide a force to move the device within the pipe line. 
   
   
     5. A composite cup for use on a pig or device, the cup of the type which would engage around the device and make contact with an inner wall of a pipe line, the composite cup comprising:
 a. a metal sleeve portion having a circular opening for sliding onto a pig or other device; 
 b. a metal arm extending from an outer wall of the metal sleeve, and defining an angulated arm around the circumference of the sleeve; 
 c. a flexible material, such a polyurethane, formed on the metal sleeve, and enveloping the metal arm, for defining the composite cup of greater structural integrity when subjected to pressures in a pipe line or other down hole setting positioned on a “pig” or other down hole device; 
 d. wherein the metal arm further comprises a plurality of perforations therethrough so that the flexible material flows through the perforations resulting in greater adhesion between the sleeve and the flexible material. 
 
   
   
     6. The composite cup in  claim 5 , wherein the cup would be formed through a molding process. 
   
   
     7. An improved circular cup for use on down hole devices, comprising:
 a. a metal sleeve portion, having an opening therethrough; 
 b. an arm portion extending out from the metal sleeve portion, substantially around its entire circumference; 
 c. a flexible material formed Onto the sleeve portion to define a composite cup, the flexible material enveloping the arm portion so that the arm portion provides structural integrity to the flexible material when subjected to pressures in a pipe line or other down hole setting; and 
 d. wherein the arm portion further comprises means for allowing greater adhesion between the sleeve and the flexible material which envelops the arm portion of the circular cup.